Camera attachment



y 1938. M. SCHWARTZ 2,117,510

' CAMERA ATTACHMENT Filed April 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ.

INVENTOR.

BY 3w ATTORNEY.

May 17, 1938. M. SCHWARTZ CAMERA ATTACHMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 3, 1935 INVENTOR. MM fg ATTORNEY.

o o wgw mm w May 17, 1938. M. SCHWARTZ CAMERA ATTACHMENT Filed April 3, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 9

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Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE Om A'ITACHHINT non-a seam Brooklyn, N. Y. Application All!!! 8.1985, Serial 80. 14,435 1 Claims. (01. n-an My invention relates to a novel apparatus with which the operation of a camera shutter is synchronized with that of a flashlight means.

My invention is particularly adapted to be used in connection with a flash lamp constructed for use in connection with making flashlight pictures.

A further object of my invention is to provide an attachment to be mounted upon ordinary or standard types of cameras by which means both the camera shutter and the flashlight aforesaid may be synchronously operated.

This invention relates to and is in part a continuation of my copending application. Serial No. 730,879, filed June 16th, 1934.

As a further description of myinvention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciflcation and in which-- Fig. 1 shows a camera with the synchronlzer unit attached to one side of said camera.

Fig. 1a shows a manner of securing the finder to the synchronizer unit.

Fig. 2 illustrates a camera with a modified synchronizer unit attached to the side of said camera.

Fig. 3 shows another modification of a synchronizer unit attached to a camera with a casing in which is contained a battery and a flashlight operating in connection with said unit.

Fig. 4 shows in partial section an inside view of the synchronizer unit shown in Fig. 1 with the cover section of the container shell removed.

Fig. 4a shows a detail of a modified means of securing the camera shutter release to a synchronizer unit.

Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-section view of the synchronizer unit taken on a line H of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the synchronizer unit taken on a line 36 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the synchronizer unit taken on a line I-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 illustrates a position of the shutter operating mechanism in the unit proper.

Fig. 8a. is a detail view of the adjusting screw mechanism taken on a line 3% of Fig. 4.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a modification of the timing unit.

Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the modified timing unit shown in Fig. 10 before photographic exposure.

Fig. 12 is a similar view as shown in Fig. 11,

- but which shows the relation of the functioning parts after a photographic exposure.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the timing unit taken on a line i3l3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view of the unit taken on aline 14- of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a section through on a line i3|3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 16 is a detail view showing the manner of a adjustment for changing the time interval of the timing unit.

Fig. 17 is a part sectional view taken-on a line ll-ii of Fig. 11 showing the manner of attaching the flexible cable release arrangement to the 10 timing unit.

Referring to Fig. 4, the numeral l0 indicates a container or shell preferably of sheet metal having partition sections ll, 12, I 3 and I4; also a rear plate section I! (see Fig. 6) and a front cover 16 plate l3 (Fig. 5), the latter being secured to the container III by means of the screws ll.

Inside the container or shell I3 is an inner enclosure consisting of side sections i3, 20 and a front section 2i (see Fig. 6).

A battery 22 is held inside the container l0, said battery being fitted in the space provided between the side sections of the inner enclosure l3. The battery 22 (see Figs. 6 and '7) is provided with contact members 24 and 24". The member 24 25 contacts with a contact spring 25 which is secured to the side section it of the container ill by means of the rivets 26. The said contact spring is formed with an outward bend as shown in Fig.

4. The spring contact 25 is also insulated from the container or shell ill by means of the insulation section 21.

The contact member 24 contacts with a socket 23 which receives the flashlight lamp 29. The socket 23 also receives the reflector 23. The 3 socket 23 is insulated from the container or shell ill by means of the insulated plate 30, the latter supporting a coiled contact spring 3i (see Fig. 5).

The side section i3 (Fig. 6) of the container or shell I3 is provided with a circular opening inside of which is affixed the threaded neck 33 the threaded section of which projects outwardly from the shell Hi. There is screwed on to the threaded neck a ferrule 33 said ferrule having a shoulder 33, (see Fig. 4a). The said ferrule is provided with an opening of smaller diameter than the inner opening of said threaded neck 33.

A nut 32 (Fig. 4) secures the neck 33 rigidly to side section i3. The neck 33 is provided with an inner section 35 the inside wall 31 of which is square shaped. At the entrance of said section 35 a shoulder 36 is provided, said shoulder having a square shaped opening. A square shaped plunger shaft 33 (Fig. 6) conforming in size to the opening of the shoulder 33 projects also through a square shaped opening of a supporting bracket H (see Fig. 4). The opposite end section 42 of said plunger shaft 38 extends into the inside wall section 35 and said plunger contacts with the head of the plunger pin 44 of the cable release 43 (see Fig. 4). The circular metallic head of said cable release is aflixed within the ferrule 33' the outer opening thereof being smaller in diameter than the circular head of said cable release, said head is held within the inner area of said ferrule while the cable section of saidcable release projects' through the circular opening of said ferrule as shown in Fig. 4. The turning or screwing of said ferrule either clockwise or anticlockwise presses the plunger pin 44 either forward or backward thereby adjusting the flexible wire within said cable release causing said wire to project a certain length long or short distance beyond the tip end of said cable release because of the adjustment of the ferrule aforesaid. This adjustment is important, said cable adjustment afiording means for tripping the shutter of various types of cameras to conform to the individual characteristics of said cameras, some requiring a longer length of projected cable release wire for said shutter tripping and some types requiring shorter cable release wire projection. A coiled spring 45 is held in tension between the pin (Fig. 6) and the supporting bracket member 4!. An insulated contact 46 is also secured to the end section of the shaft 38 as shown.

An eccentric disc 41 is mounted on the front section of the inner enclosure i8 and which turns on a shaft 48. A coiled spring 49 has one end thereof secured to the disc 4i and the opposite end secured to the inner enclosure 18 (see Fig. 5). The spring aforesaid tends to keep the disc il under tension and substantially in the position shown in Fig. 4.

An extended l.--shaped arm 50 is provided with an end section 5| which is secured to the inner enclosure i8. The opposite end section 52 of said L-shaped arm is free (see Fig. 7).

A pin 54 (Fig. 8) is secured to the L -shaped member 50. Pins 55 and 56 are secured to the eccentric ring 41. Another extruded arm 5! is provided having one end section 58 secured to the inner section i8 and the opposite end section 59 thereof being free.

The function of this arm will hereinafter be described.

A. Bakelite push button 66 is inserted through an opening 6| of the side section IS.

A contact spring 62 is held by means of screws to a Bakelite block 63. The said spring has an extended section 64 (see Fig. 8). The block 83 is rigidly mounted to the side section i4 and is provided with a contact adjusting screw 65. A screw 50 (Fig. 4) secures the insulated block 63 to the side section M. A turning handle 55 is provided for setting the device back to the position preparatory to exposing and flashing a picture. This position is shown in Fig. 8.

The shell 28 is of insulated material and sur rounds the lamp socket 28 as shown in Fig. 4.

The stop pin 44 is provided for the plunger shaft 38 as stated.

An insulated plate ill is provided for insulating the spring contact 25 53- is the camera. lens as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

61 is a time Setting scale for the adjusting screw 65. (See Fig. 8a.)

68 is a reinforcement support for the cover fastening I1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 1a, the numeral I represents the camera proper having a finder glass 2. The cable release 3 is secured. to the camera shutter 53 by means of the cup screw 8 and said cable release is connected at its opposite end 9 to the shell III of the synchronizer unit and through the bushing 33' which is set into the shell of the unit aforesaid as shown in Fig. 1.

The camera I is also provided with the usual finding glass 2. A focusing and objective scanning device 4 is shown in Fig. la having a U- shaped bracket 5, one side thereof secured to the finding device 4 and the opposite side thereof 1 aflixed into the slot H'- of the unit [0.

A plate 6 is used as a reinforcement between the device 4 and the U-shaped bracket 5 (see Fig. 1a) A battery is contained within the synchronizer unit shell l0.

Referring specifically to Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 shows a side view of a modification of a timing unit. Fig. 10 is the front view thereof. The function of the unit shown in the foregoing figures is similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The construction is somewhat simplified which enables such a unit to be preferably used by amateurs.

The numeral, 11 designates preferably a Square shaped casing of the modified timing unit. This casing has an opening at the front thereof, said opening being covered by a fiat square cover 13, said cover being held in place by the screws '19, 80.

One end of the shaft 8i projects through the casing Ti and which has a knurled turning screw 82.

A disc 83 is attached to the shaft 8i as shown in Fig. 15. The disc is partially insulated by means of cut-off section 84 uponwhich are pro- 1 vided 5 circular apertures 35. A screw 86 secures the insulated cut-off section 84 to the disc 83.

The function of the apertures aforesaid will be hereinafter explained.

The upper section of the casing 11* has a U- shaped member 81 (Fig. 14) secured to it. The U-shaped member aforesaid carries a plunger bar 88 which is slidably mounted therein. The plunger bar 88 is provided with a stop pin 89 and a push spring 90. The spring aforesaid maintains the plunger bar 88 at a tension in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Figs.

and 12.

The plunger bar 88 is provided with a trip finger 9| which contacts with a pin 92, the latter being secured to disc 84. The contacting of the trip finger 9i and the pin 92 retains the plunger bar 88 in the position shown in Fig. 11.

A U-shaped member 93 is secured to the side portion 8-; of the casing 71 The member 93 is insulated from the casing llby means of the insulated plate 95. The cover 18 has a circular opening 96 into which there is placed a push button 91 made of insulated material and which has a stop collar 98 and an inner projection 99 which projects through an opening 100 situated at .the side designated as it" of the U-shaped member 93. The tip of the projection 98 contacts with the opposite side designated as it)! of the U-shaped member 93.

The disc 83 is maintained at a tension by means of the spiral spring I03. One end, designated as Hi4 (Fig. 11) of the spring aforesaid is secured tothe disc 83, the opposite terminal of the spring being attached to the casing 11.

The casing I'I forms a part of an electrical circuit which includes the flashlight, the latter being connected thereto through the medium of the member II9 (see Fig. 15).

To adjust the timing of the modifled unit, the screw 99 is flrst loosened oil the disc 99. The insulated disc is then turned to a point where the screw is in line with one of the apertures and the screw 99 is screwed therein.

In Fig. 16 there are shown flve apertures which will allow. for five adjustments for timing. It will be observed in this figure that the timing adjustment is different from that shown in Fig. 11.

When the operator desires to make a picture, he presses the button 91. This causes the stop collar 99 of the button 91 to press against section I9I of the U-shaped member 99 which in turn presses against the disc 99. The opposite side I92 of the U-shaped member contacts at the same time with the member I99 when the aforesaid section I92 goes off the pin 92.

The pin 92 being secured to the disc 99 leaves the latter free to rotate in a clockwise direction under tension of the spring I99.

The member I9I. contacts with the surface of the disc 99 and, inasmuch as the face of the disc 99 is partially insulated and partially metallic, an electric contact is made with the member I9I during the revolution of the disc aforesaid; and, upon completion of this revolution the trip finger 9| of the bar 99 is made free to move in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 11 and to operate the flexible cable release which in turn operates the camera shutter.

The timing adjustment previously set by adjusting therelative positions of the metallic disc 99 with the insulated disc 94, times the closing of an electric circuit which includes the following elements: The casing I'l spring member II9, flash light I91, battery I95, contact member I99, spring I 92, spring IN and the disc 99.

The disc 99 is electrically connected to the casing I'I by means of the spring I99.

When the operator desires to set the modified unit in preparation for another film exposure, he turns the knurled knob 92 in an anti-clockwise direction which restores the mechanism to its original position as shown in Figs. 11 and 13.

Thesynchronizer unit as described possesses two outstanding advantages. It is small and easily attached so that the camera can be carried closed. The act of attaching and detaching said unit does not interfere with the time adjustment. Furthermore, the battery serves only to flash the lamp and is not instrumental in operating the synchronizer, hence the timing is in no way affected by the condition of the battery other than the effect upon the flash lamp itself.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 8, the former flgure illustrates the synchronizing unit in an unoperative position or after a picture had been exposed. After the end section 9 of the cable release 9 is secured inside the bushing 99, the restoring handle 95* is turned anti-clockwise. This movement causes the pin 55 to contact with the pin 44 of the plunger shaft 99 and in the position shown in Fig. 8 and is thus held preparatory to being set oil for an exposure of a picture.

The end section 64 of the contact spring 92 is pressed against the end section 25 of the spring 25 by means of the insulated contact 46. This action places the aforementioned springs in electrical connection. The pin 59 contacts with the spring arm 59 and serves to hold the eccentric disc 41 in the position shown in Fig. 8.

When the operator wishes to photograph an object he presses the Bakelite button 99 which in turn depresses the spring 59 inwardly. (See 1' 8. 5.)

Theoperation aforesaid releases the pin 59 and the eccentric disc 41 respectively. This disc being under tension of the coiled spring 49 revolves in a clockwise direction.

At a predetermined part of the revolution of the disc 41, the pin 55 depresses the L-shaped arm 59 which releases the pin 44' and with it the square shaped plunger shaft 99. The plunger shaft being held undertension of spring 45, moves in a forward direction and operates the shutter release. At the same time the eccentric disc 41 contacts with the contact spring 92 and thereby closing an electric circuit that includes disc 41, shaft 49, container shell I9, contact spring 9I, flashlight 29, socket 29, battery contact 29, contact spring 25 and contact spring 92.

After the exposure has been made, the parts are restored to the position shown in Fig. 8, which as already stated is accomplished by turning the knob 65 in an anti-clockwise direction.

Referringagain to Fig. 1, the unit I9 is secured to the camera I by means of the knurled screw 9 having a shank 9 the end section 9 thereof being enlarged and is seated into the frame of the camera aforesaid.

Mounted to said unit is the fiashlamp bulb assembly 29 having a reflector 29. The flashlamp assembly being virtually mounted on the unit in the manner shown, enables the operator to better focus and concentrate the flash upon the object to be photographed. In this connection the operator is assisted by the scanning device 4 which is normally mounted into the bracket II of said unit. The battery in connection with the flashlamp is contained in the unit as shown in Fig. 6.

In this manner the finder lens, the timing unit, the scanning device and the flash lamp are all concentrated at one side of the camera thus enabling the operator to have an unhampered view of the object to be photographed and complete control of the camera shutter movement and the flashing of the lamp aforesaid by reason of the arrangement as described. 7

Referring to Fig. 2 which is a similar but modifled arrangement to that shown in Fig. 1. In this flgure the combination battery case and flashlamp bulb holder 19 is attached to one side of the camera by means of set screw I5.

The finder lens I24 is secured to said battery case to the left and top of the camera I in the manner shown in said figure. The unit 11 is also secured to the battery case I6. A cable release 9 is secured at one end to the camera shutter 53 by means of the thumb screw 59 which is screwed into the cup screw socket I I9 that is secured to the camera shutter aforesaid. The opposite end of the cable release 9 is secured to the bushing 99 which is exteriorly supported by the spring bracket H3 that is secured to the unit TI by means of rivet II4.

In Fig. 3 the. battery case I29 and flash lamp I5 together with the reflector I5 attached thereto form a separate unit and are joined electrically by means of the wires I2I and I22 which extend through the casing of the timing unit. The timlng unit 'II is directly attached to the camera body I9 by means of an extension ear I29.

It will thus be seen that a novel and practical synchronizing unit for flashing of pictures has been devised and one that is well adapted for high speed exposures, having particular novelty in timing and securing synchronous sequence of operation.

Now having described. my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a camera having a camera shutter, a battery container having a battery therein mounted on said camera, said mounting efiected through the medium of a hand turning screw projecting through said container and into said camera, 8; flash lamp socket to contain s. flesh lump mount ed on said container; 3 flesh light and camera shutter releasing unit attached to said container; e plunger rod seio". unit actuating camera, shutter through the medium or a cable release between said unit and said camera shutter, s. for actuating said plunger; a turning knob for Winding spring: and push button means on unit for ca, ing 'he release or said plunger rod -*multoneously wish the re lease of means cont ined in suiol unit for causing the fiesl nng of the lamp aforesaid.

2. In combination, e comers, c, syuohronizer unit, manually operable releasing means Within said unit that causes the tripping of the shutter of said corners, and the set 0% G": u flesh lor p synchronously; a battery included in s. circ said manually operable releasing means also ineluded said circuit, said flesh lamp also included in said circuit, a combination container conteimng sold battery and a. hash lamp mounting, said synchronlzer unit attached said container, said container eeljustebly attached to said camera; a cable release connected between said synchronizer unit one" said comers. shutter, said cable release forming the connecting medium for tripping said comers shutter by said operable releasing means in said synchronizer unit synchronously with the set ofi of the'flosh lamp aforesaid.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and e viewing finder attached to said container in the manner and for the purpose as set forth.

4. In combination, a camera, a synchronizer unit adjustebly attached thereto a battery contained within said unit, a push button or the like for releasing means within said unit for tripping the shutter of said camera synchronously with the set off of a fresh lamp, a flash lamp mounting connected to said synchronizer unit, a. cable release connected between said synchronizer unit and said camera shutter, said cable release forming the operatively connecting medium to trip said camera shutter by said push button synchronously with the set 011" of said flash lamp; and scanning means mounted on the synchroniuer unit aforesaid.

5. In combination, a. synchronizer unit having means therein to cause the set oil" of 9. flash lamp synchronously with the tripping of a shutter 01 a. camera, said set ofl means of said synchronize: unit including a. battery and said flash lamp contained in said unit, said synchronlzer unit edjustably connected to said camera, said set of! means in said synchronizer unit also including a cable release between said unit and said camera shutter, said synchronizer unit having outer and visible means for adjusting the length of the outward projection of the flexible wire contained in said cable release whereby said wire projection may be adjusted to conform to the shutter tripping requirement with respect to extent of projection of said flexible wire from the tip end of the cable release aforesaid.

In combination, a synchronizer unit having means therein to cause the set off of a. flash lamp synchronously with the tripping of a shutter of 5. camera, said set oft means of said synchrouleer unit including 9. battery and said flash lamp, a casing in which said battery and said flash lamp are contained, said synchronizer unit connected to said casing, said casing adjustably connected to said camera; said set on means in sold synohronizer unit also including a. cable relee e connected between said synchronizer unit. said camera shutter, said synchronizer unit having means for adjusting the length of the outward projection of the flexible wire contained 'within said cable release whereby said wire projection from the tip end therefrom may be adjusted to conform to the tripping requirement of the shutter of a camera to which said combined synchronizer unit and said casing is applied.

t. In combination, a synchronizer unit for a camera having an eceentrically mounted disc, an adjustable resilient contact spring bearing upon the periphery of said disc, a push button to release said disc, a spring pressed plunger that is set off in turn by said disc, said disc having an alternate electrical contacting and an insulation area, said electrical contacting area cooperating with said resilient contact spring, a battery in circuit connection with said contact spring, a flash lamp in circuit connection with said battery, said release of said disc causing the contact of said electrical contacts and the release of said spring pressed plunger, the release of said plunger causing the tripping of said camera shutter through the medium of a cable release situated between said plunger and said camera shutter; and knob resetting means to restore said disc and said plunger to the normal setting positlon with one continuous winding preparatory to the exposure of a. new picture.

MORRIS SCHWAR'IZ. 

